Quick wheel change railway car truck



June 14, 1949. J. w. CLASEN 1 QUICK WHEEL CHANE RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed Nov. zo 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVENIY'OR. 26 'fifawcfi/epzarfiwn 9/ 2?? June 14,1949. P c. J. WiCLASEN 7 QUICK WHEEL CHANGE RAILWAY CAR TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fild Nov. 2Q, 1.943

INVENTOR. uAscffi/epzze/ bdew Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Q ICK WHEEL CHANGE RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Claus J. Werner Clasen, Chicago, 111,, assignolt to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a. @029 poration of New Jersey Application November 20, 1943', Serial No. 511,015 28..Claims. '(Cl. 1(l5.197.2)

afford an interlock therebetween. My novel truck is so constructed that the bolster and its supporting spring group: may be removed as a unit from the side frame bolster opening, together with the interlocking member.

- A specific object of my invention is to provide an interlocking member such as above described in the form of a rectangular frame adapted for reception within the bolster opening. of the side frame, said rectangular-frame. comprising a bottom wall formed. with a seat'afiording convenient support for the bolster supporting spring roup;

and the side walls of said rectangular frame are provided with interlocking means cooperating with complementary means on the side frame columns, said interlocking means bein constructed and arranged to permit elevaticnof the interlocking member in the bolster Opening and removal therefrom during a quick wheel change.

A further object of my invention is to design a railway car truck in which the interlocking member associated with the side frame and bolster is formed with brake hanger brackets whereby said member may be dissociated from the side frame during a quick wheel change without dropping the brake rigging.

- In the drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, portions of the side frame being broken away in order to clarify the illustration.

Figure 2 is a top view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with the side frame shown in section through the columns and with, portions of the interlocking frame broken away, the bolster being diagrammatically illustrated.

- Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the transverse vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view comparable to Figure .3 but illustrating the bolster and interlocking .irame in elevated position within the side frame bolster opening.

- Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views taken respectively in theplanes indicated by the lines -55 and 6-43 of Figure 1.

Describing my invention in detail, the side frame comprises a compression member 2, a tension member 4, and spaced columns .5, 6 erging t e ew h. to define a bolster. op nin 8. and a window opening In at; each; side thereof, said holster ope n 8 havin the id ned upper p rtion 12 for a purpose hereinafter discussed, As.

best seenin Figure the tension member t is of.

box section, and seated a at. It thereon is he bottom wall l6 .of the interlocking member or frame It, said bottom wall being formed withv interlocking means preferably in the, form of inboard and outboard depending flanges 2t and.

22 cooperating with. the; tensizipo,v member 4 to ai ford an interlocktherewith. Seated as at 24 upon the bottom wall I 5 of the interlocking. frame. i8 are a plurality of. bolster suppqrting coil, 2 springs diagrammatically indicated at 26,, 2.6...

said, bottom wall being, provided with positioning lugs 28, 28 cooperating with said springs.

The interlocking member i8 is a, frame of gen-- erally rectangular form comprising the spaced side walls 30, 30; merging at their lower ends with the before-mentioned bottom wall It andv merging at their upper extremities with the top wall 32, the adjacent edges of the side walls. 3t, 36] being provided with wear plates 34, 34 positioned by lugs 36, 36 on the side walls 3!], 30 and between outboard flanges 38, 38 thereon, said plates, 3d, 34' bein secured to the side walls 3B, 36 by any convenient means, such as welding, and said plates affording wear surfaces for cooperation with the truck bolster, as will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art.

At the upper corners of the interlocking frame It} are formed the interlocking lugs 40, 40 disposed on the outboard side of the member I8 and received within complementary recesses or pockets 42, 42 formedin the outboard sides of the columns 6, 6 at their .upper extremities, and the. inboard edges. of the walls 3.0, 30 of the member l8 are. provided with the. flanges 44, 494. Cooper- :ting with the inboard surfaces of the columns The bolster 461 is seated. asat .48 on the springs 26, 25. and said bolster comprises ,at. each side thereof a gib or lug 50 received within, a com.-

\ plementary channel orguideway 52' on the, brake hanger bracket 54 formed on the inboard edge of the wall 30 of the interloc in frame l8. Th br ke hanger bracket 5.4 is of conventional form with the top and bottom jaws 5.6 and 58 formed with the aligned perforations. .60, 60 for the reception of securing meansfor an associated brake hanger received between the jaws .56 and .58.

As will be clearly understood from a comparison of Figures 1 vand 3, the outboard interlocking lugs 50, .40 of'the frame l8 are of less depth than the widened upper porton l2 of the bolster opening and likewise, the depending flanges 20 and 22 are of less depth than said widened portion l2 of the bolster opening, whereby the bolster and the interlocking frame l8 may be elevated as a unit in said bolster opening, as illustrated in Figure 4, to permit the removal of the bolster and the member (8 along with the bolster supporting spring group 26 from the bolster opening during a quick wheel change.

In assembling my novel truck, the bolster MS is inserted within the frame l8 at the bottom thereof and is elevated within the frame, the bolster gibs 50, 50 being received within the channels 52, 52, and thereafter the bolster supporting springs 26, 26 are seated at 24 on the frame IS. The bolster 4B is then lowered onto the springs 26, 2B. This assembly operation may be performed with the frame IS in assembled relationship with the side frame or it may be performed while the member I8 is separated from the side frame, if desired.

Thus it will be seen that I have designed a novel railway car truck in which the side frames may be removed from the bolster during a quick wheel change without dropping the brake rigging and without dissociating the bolster from its supporting coil spring groups.

It will be understood that if desired, any suitable friction devices may be housed within the bolster for cooperation with the wear plates 34, 3 5 for dampening oscillations of the bolster supporting springs 26, 28, and in such an arrangement it will be understood that my novel assembly would be of considerable utility in permitting the removal of the bolster from the side frames without the necessity of removing the friction devices.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening with a widened upper portion, a recess in the outboard face of each column at its upper extremity, a rectangular frame in said bolster opening comprising a bottom wall seated on said tension member, said bottom wall having inboard and outboard depending flanges cooperating with said tension member, a spring seat on said bottom wall comprising spring positioning means, said rectangular frame having spaced side walls merging with said bottom wall and with a top wall, each side wall having a bolster guide surface thereon and having an inboard flange cooperating with the adjacent column, interlocking lugs on said rectangular frame at the upper corners thereof and received within the recesses in respective columns, brake hanger brackets formed on the inboard side of said rectangular frame, each of said brackets having a substantially vertical guide channel, springs on said spring seat, and a bolster supported on said springs and having guide lugs received within said channels, the depth of said interlocking lugs and said depending flanges being less than the depth of the widened upper portion of said bolster opening, whereby said bolster and rectangular frame may be elevated and removed as a unit from said bolster opening.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening with a widened upper portion, a recess in the outboard face of each column at its upper extremity, a rectangular frame in said bolster opening comprising a bottom wall seated on said tension member, said bottom wall comprising inboard and outboard depending flanges cooperating with said tension member, a spring seat on said bottom wall, said rectangular frame having spaced side walls merging with said bottom wall and with a top wall, each side wall having a bolster guide surface thereon and having an inboard flange cooperating with the adjacent column, interlocking lugs on said frame at the upper corners thereof and received within the recesses in respective columns, guide channels formed on the inboard side of said rectangular frame, springs on said spring seat, and a bolster supported by said springs and having guide lugs received within respective channels, the depth of said interlocking lugs and said depending flanges being less than that of said widened upper portion of said bolster opening, whereby said bolster and said rectangular frame may be elevated and removed as a unit from said bolster opening.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening with a widened upper portion, a recess in the outboard face of each column at its upper extremity, an interlocking member in said bolster opening comprising a bottom wall seated on said tension member, said bottom wall having inboard and outboard depending flanges cooperating with said tension member, spaced side walls merging with said bottom Wall, each side wall having a bolster guide surface thereon and having a flange cooperating with the inboard side of the adjacent column, interlocking lugs formed on said side walls at their upper extremities and received within the recesses in respective columns, springs seated on said bottom wall, a bolster supported by said springs and having guide lugs received within complementary channels formed in said interlocking member, the depth of said interlocking lugs and said depending flanges being less than that of the widened portion of said bolster opening, whereby said bolster and interlocking member may be elevated and removed as a unit from said bolster opening, and brake hanger brackets integrally formed with said interlocking memher.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening with a widened upper portion, a recess in the outboard face of each column at its upper extremity, an interlocking member in said bolster opening comprising a bottom wall seated on said tension member, said bottom wall having inboard and outboard depending flanges cooperating with said tension member, spaced side walls merging with said bottom wall, each side wall having a bolster guide surface thereon and having a flange cooperating with the inboard side of the adjacent column, interlocking lugs formed on said side walls at their upper extremities and received within the recesses in respective columns, springs seated on said bottom A'NEQIQ wall, and a bolster supported by:-sai.d sprin sand;

having-guide lugs received within complem tatychannels rormedin aidxinterlockingz m n}; her, the depth of said interlocking -lugszandsaid1 depending flanges being less than that :of the widened portion of said bolster opening, whereb said bolsterand interlocking-membermay be elevated andremoved as a unit; from said Q J Q Z opening.

5. Ina railway eartruck, a side. frame .OQm-L: la:

prising tension and compression members. and spaced columns defining therewith; a bolster openingwith-a widened upper p r ion; .a M l tia; in the outboard-face of eachcollrmnlat its upper:-

, 152 ster opening comprising a ot om Wa l a ed. on? saidtension' member andspacedside walls;

xtrem tv. an interlo king membe in; said bolupstanding from said bottom wall, said sidewalls having, bolster guide surfaces on their adjacent faces-and said side :Wall-s having; flanges cooper ating withthe-inboard sides of respective columns, interlocking lugs formed on respective side Walls and received within the recesses respeetivecolumns, springs supported by said b.01 tom iva-ll, a bolster supportedbysaid springs and having interlocking means cooperatingwith complementary means formed on therespective side walls, the depth of said interlocking lugs in less than the, widened upper portion of saidbolster opening, whereby said bolster and interlocking membermay: be elevated and re moved-as a unitfromsaid bolster opening, and

brake hanger-brackets integrally formed with, respective of said side Walls.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame com.-.-;- prising tension andcompressionmembers and. spaced columns definingtherewith a bolster opening with a widened upper portion, a recess in the outboard face of each column at its upper 6X7,

tremity, an interlocking member in said bolster opening comprising a bottom Wall seated-onsaid tension member and spaced sidewalls upstanding from said bottom Wall, said sidewalls having-- bolster guide surfaces on their adjacent faces; and said side walls having flanges cooperatingwith the inboard sides of respective columns, interlocking lugsformed onl respective side walls androceived within the recesses in respective vcolumn-s, springs supported by said bottom wall, and a bolster-supported by said springs and having interlocking means cooperating with compleec mentary means formed on the respective side walls, the depth of said-interlockinglugs being less than the widened upper portion of said bolster opening, whereby said bolster and-interlocking member may be elevated and removed as a unit-- from said bolster opening.

7. In a side frame for a railway cartruck, tension, and compression members and spaced, columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a

and comprising a bottom wall, with depending in-,. board and outboard flanges cooperatingwithsaid tension membenmeans on-said rectangular frame; cooperating with the inboard sides of said columns, interlocking lugs on said frame cooperat-;

ing with the outboard sides of said columns, .a spring seat on said bottom wall, and brake hanger brackets formed on the inboard side; or said, rec-s tanglllar frame, said brackets comprising chana nels for the reception of means on an; associated bolster, said bolster opening having a widened up er portion, and said depending flanges and saidinterlocking lugs'belng of lessmdepth than;

thatv of said widened ,up er-portioni hereby said .5

ben and con prislng a bottom wall, means on said l to rectangular frame seated on said tension member,

recitensules-rfram may be elevatediin sa d olster,

openin and;removed-;-tbereironi.

811K131 side .Ltrem, wifora railway ear trucks tension: and compression, memb rs; and pac d: c lu ns .d finineztbe ewith a bo st r ope n a ectaneular.iframe-seated. onsaidtension memeria dronirri inaa.bottom w ll ith e en in "fi nses-owperat sw th 1 nterloc i mea o aid. olumns.coon retina w hr ompl m n y nt re inboard; and out oard said tension membe s:

m lting means-oriental rectan ular frame at the pper corners: thereo sa r n se on. said. be om:wal ra dabrake han e br ck ts iQrmedon:

the, inboard side of @said rectangular frame, said 7 rack t eompri inabolste in nsa in mea s.

tweentheto of said ,reetaneularframe and said,

omp ssion, members,- w e y s r an ular ..v. ra e.moy.b elevated in said b s op nin nd 'removedtherefrpm.

9. In; a side-frame-for a railway car truck,,

e s on:- d comp ess on. em r a d c d columnsdeflning therewith a bolster opening, an interlockingmember seated onsaid tension morn- 1 interlocking? membercooperating, with the in,- board sides of said columns, lugs-on said interlooking member," cooperating ,with the, outboard sides of s id columns, a spring seat formed on said b tt0m-wa1Lb91s erin erlockin me s' orm don- S idinterlocking-memberinboard; respective col-.5-

umns; saidv bolster opening having a widened upper portiom and: said-lugs being of less, depth th n-that: of said upper portion w ereby aid; interlockingr'member may be; elevated in said-l bolster opening and removed therefrom during a quick W eel ban ean nt ral brak supp rt meansiforn ed on the-irrboard side of said inter- I, looking member.

10. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compression. members and spaced oolumnsldefini-ng therewitha bolster opening, an interlocking-memberseated on said tension mem benand comprising? a; bottom wall, means on said, interlocking membertcooperati-ng with the in-- board sides of said columns, lugs v on said interlocking, member. eooperatin-g with the outboard sides of said columns, aspring seat formed on said bottom,-, walk. and bolster interlocking" means;

formed on saidinterlocking member inboard re spe'ctive columns, said bolster opening having a widened up er portion, andsaid lugs being of ve tb than that. of, saidupper p rtion, where-- by: said interlooking member may be elevated in said. bolster openingand removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

11. In a railway cartruek; a side rramewconn; prising. spaced-columns and an intervening bolster opening, an interlocking; member seated on said frame -.in;:s aid opening and-having interlocking means int grar therewith, cooperating with com-r e em ar --interloeking means on; t eczinboardr 7 prising spaced columns and an intervenin bolster opening, an interlocking member seated on said frame in said opening and having interlocking means integral therewith cooperating with complementary interlocking means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, resilient means on said member,'and a bolster sup ported on said resilient means and interlocked with said member, said interlocking means being of less depth than the clearance between said member and the portion of the side frame thereabove, whereby said member and said bolster may be elevated as a. nit in said bolster opening and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

13. In a bolster interlocking member, a rectangular frame having top and bottom walls and spaced side walls, a spring seat on said bottom Wall, bolster guide surfaces on the adjacent edges of said side walls, a lug formed at each upper corner of the frame on the outboard side thereof at the juncture of said top wall with the adjacent side wall, inboard flanges on said side Walls, said lugs and flanges interlocking said frame with the inboard and outboard sides of associated side frame columns, and bolster interlocking means formed on the inboard side of said rectangular frame, said interlockin means being integrally formed with brake hanger brackets.

14. In a bolster interlocking member, 2. rectangular frame having top and bottom walls and spaced side walls, a spring seat on said bottom wall, bolster guide surfaces on the adjacent edges of said side walls, a lug formed at each upper corner of the frame on the outboard side thereof at the juncture of said top wall with the adjacent side wall, inboard flanges on said side walls, said lugs and flanges interlocking said frame with the inboard and outboard sides of associated side frame columns, and bolster interlocking means formed on the inboard side of said rectangular frame.

15. In a bolster interlockin element for a railway car truck, a rectangular frame comprising a bottom wall formed with a spring seat on the top thereof, interlocking means formed on said rectangular frame on the outboard and inboard sides thereof for cooperation with the inboard and outboard sides of an associated side frame, and brake hanger brackets onthe inboard side of said rectangular frame at the upper corners thereof, said brackets comprising bolster interlocking means.

16. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, an interlocking element seated on said tension member in said opening, spaced depending flanges on said element retaining said tension member therebetween and in interlocking engagement therewith, interlocking means on said element integral therewith inboard and outboard said columns and having engagement with the adjacent sides of said columns, resilient means on said element. and a bolster supported from said resilient means and interlocked with said element, said bolster opening having 'a widened portion spaced from said interlocking means and said outboard interlocking means being of less depth than that of said portion whereby said interlocking element and bolster may be elevated as a unit in said opening and removed therefrom.

17. In a railway car truck, a side frame, a bolster, an interlocking member associated with said frame and bolster and havin means formed on the inboard and outboard sides thereof inter- 8 locking said frame and bolster therewith for maintaining the truck in assembled relationship, said means comprising depending inboard and outboard flanges on the bottom of said member receiving an adjacent portion of said frame therebetween and having interlocking engagement therewith, resilient means supported by said member and affording support for said bolster, and brake support elements on said member, said elements comprising bolster interlocking means.

18. In a railway car truck, a side frame, a bolster resiliently supported therefrom, an interlocking member associated with said frame and bolster and havin means integral therewith interlocking said frame and bolster with said member for maintaining the truck in assembled relationship, said means comprising depending inboard and outboard flanges on the bottom of said member receiving an adjacent portion of said frame therebetween and having interlocking engagement therewith, said member comprisin common bolster interlocking and brake support means.

19. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns partially defining a bolster opening having a widened portion, a load carrying member in said opening, an interlocking element associated with said member and frame and having means integral therewith inboard and outboard of said columns in engagement with the adjacent sides of said columns for interlocking said frame and member with said element to maintain the same in assembled relationship, said outboard means being in spaced relation to and of less depth than that of said widened portion, whereby said element may be moved vertically in said opening for removal therefrom with said member and spring means supporting said member from said element.

20. In a bolster interlocking element, a member having interlockin means integral therewith for cooperation with the inboard and outboard sides of an associated side frame, and a brake hanger bracket on said member comprising a channel for the reception of interlocking means on an associated bolster.

21. In a bolster and side frame interlocking member, a frame having top and bottom walls and spaced side walls, a spring seat on said bottom wall, and interlocking means formed on the inboard and outboard sides of each side wall and said bottom wall for cooperation with the inboard and outboard sides of an associated side frame, and other interlocking means on the inboard sides of said member for interlocking an associated bolster therewith.

22. In a side frame for a railway car truck, tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening havin a widened portion, an interlocking member supported on said tension member and comprising spaced side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having depending inboard and outboard flanges receiving said tension member therebetween and in interlocking engagement therewith, interlocking means formed on the inboard and outboard sides of said walls for interlocking engagement with the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and a bolster resiliently supported on said member, said outboard interlocking means being in spaced relation to and of less depth than said widened portion, whereby said member and bolster may be elevated as a unit in said bolster openin and removed therefrom.

23-. In a side frame for a railway car truck,

9 spaced columns and an intervening opening ha ing a widened portion, an interlocking member supported on said frame in said opening and comprising spaced side walls, means on the inboard and outboard sides of each wall cooperating with complementary means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and interlocking means on the inboard sides of said walls comprising channels for interlocking an associated bolster therewith, said outboard means on said member being in spaced relation to and of less depth than that of said widened portion, whereby said member may be moved vertically in said opening for reception of said outboard means in said widened portion to remove said element from said frame.

24. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, an interlocking member supported on said frame in said opening and comprising spaced side walls and means on the inboard and outboard edges of each wall cooperating with complem-entary means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and brake hanger brackets on the inboard side of said member at the upper end thereof, said brackets comprising channels for the reception of means on an associated bolster.

25. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns and an intervening opening having a widened portion, an interlocking member supported on said frame in said opening and comprising spaced side walls, means on the inboard and outboard sides of each wall cooperating with complementary means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and interlocking means comprising channels formed on one side of said member for interlocking an associated load-supporting structure therewith, the means on the outboard sides of said walls being spaced from and having less depth than that of said widened portion, whereby said member and structure may be moved vertically as a unit in said opening for reception of said outboard means in said widened portion to remove said member and structure from said opening.

26. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns and an intervening opening having a widened portion, an interlocking member supported on said frame in said opening and comprising spaced side walls and means on the inboard and outboard sides of each wall cooperating with complementary means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and means formed on the inboard side of said member for interlockin an associated member therewith, the means on one of the sides of said walls being spaced from and having less depth than that of said widened portion whereby said members may be moved vertically as a unit in said opening for reception of said last-mentioned means in said widened portion to remove said members from said opening,

27. In a side frame for a railway car truck, spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, an interlocking member supported on said frame in said opening and comprising spaced side walls and means on the inboard and outboard edges of each wall cooperating with complementary means on the inboard and outboard sides of said columns, and common means on the inboard side of said member aifording supports for associated brake members and interlocking means for an associated bolster.

28. In a bolster and side frame interlocking member, a frame having top and bottom walls and spaced side walls, a spring seat on said bottom wall, and interlocking means formed on the inboard and outboard sides of three of said walls for cooperation with the inboard and outboard sides of an associated side frame, and other interlocking means on one side of said member for interlocking an associated load-supporting member therewith.

CLAUS J'. WERNER CLASEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 773,564 Green Nov. 1, 1904 856,111 Symons June 4, 1907 965,600 Richards July 26, 1910 1,009,242 Hamilton Nov. 21, 1911 1,114,061 Stafford Oct. 20, 1914 1,594,576 Taylor Aug. 3, 1926 1,650,173 Akitt Nov. 22, 1927 1,650,175 Akitt Nov. 22, 1927 1,787,722 Clasen Jan. 6, 1931 2,199,360 Light Apr. 30, 1940 

